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Sean: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Sean Ryan Show. We’re going through the book Think and Grow Rich. We’re on the final chapter chapter 15 Ryan. We made it. It’s how to outwit the six Ghosts of Fear. We’re going to talk about that today. And while we’re on the Final Chapter, it’s not actually the final episode of this series because we’re going to do a recap episode next week going over what we’ve learned kind of trying to digest this figure out what we’re going to do with it.

There’s a lot in this chapter. So as we always say. Read the book. We can’t deliver all of it to you on the podcast, but we’re going to talk about it. I think right off the bat. It would be a good idea to list off what these six Ghosts of Fear are so we’ve got six fears and he says all other fears are of minor importance meaning they can be grouped under these six headings.

Like if there’s any other fear you’re thinking of it can be included in one of these groups. So we have first of all, The fear of poverty the fear of criticism the fear of ill health the fear of loss of Love of someone the fear of old age and the fear of death. So where does Fear come from and in the book?

He says study analyze and understand the three enemies you have to clear out because we’re one is found. The other two are close at hand and he calls these the Unholy Trio you’ve got indecision doubt and fear and he says indecision is the seedling of sphere indecision crystallizes into doubt the to blend and become fear.

Sean: [00:01:55] And apparently it goes in slow motion. Sounds like the blending process is so slow. This is one reason why these three enemies are so dangerous. They germinate and grow without their presence being observed.

You don’t even know it’s happening.

Ryan: [00:02:08] the good news is as scary as that can sound the good news is that he says through a series of self-analysis and questions that he actually gives to you and presents to you in the book. He’s like you’re able to detect and we doubt any of these fears essentially, so that’s the good news.

Man, I when I read this book, it’s it’s always and I since the since I’ve read this book. I’ve gotten better with it, obviously, but the fear of poverty that was the one that always stood out to me and he specifically goes into you know different, you know, characteristics or you know symptoms of the fear of poverty and how it manifests itself.

But that’s the one that really out of all six of them that one really really really. Maybe as my Achilles heel or weakness because it’s like I look at the things that he’s talking about. I was like, yeah, I’ve dealt with this I’ve dealt with that maybe still even have a little bit that I need to work on.

Of course, you know, so the other ones I can’t say that I struggle with too many of the other ones. Thankfully it’s a big, you know, blessing not to have to worry about those other ones but the fear of poverty and then also maybe some of the criticism as well those two are probably the two that I’m like I need to work on

Sean: [00:03:17] If anyone’s having trouble following along the book goes into pretty great detail on each of these fears and each one includes a list of symptoms now, you know, I don’t think we should go through all of them.

But Ryan I was thinking maybe. Maybe we can share like one of these fears symptoms list just to give people an idea at what part I was thinking either maybe even just maybe even two.

Sean: [00:03:48] I’m thinking poverty and. Like go over the symptoms list just because I think these are going to be immediately convicting for people and especially the people who listen to the book club podcast without reading the book like this is going to be a reminder for you that that you need to read the book, you know, because like it’s got all of these things for you to think about so, what do you think about that if we go over like two of them?

Sean: [00:04:16] Okay. I noticed that it says a person is lucky if they don’t suffer from all six, so you might be kind of tempted to feel a little bit bad like when you hear these things like oh, wow, like, that’s me. That’s me. That’s me. That’s me. And you suffer from multiple of these fears?

Well, it’s a pretty common condition and he’s saying you’re lucky if you don’t suffer from all six. So don’t be surprised. When you you find some of these things to be true in your case. So the just the first fear and he also said in order of prominence like common commonality, right? So poverty being the number one criticism criticism being number two, and you might think I don’t fear poverty, but when we get into these symptoms here, you’re going to realize okay.

All right, maybe maybe I do without realizing it so. And ran feel free to stop me on any of these but I think.

Sean: [00:05:22] Let’s just do a few of them. Okay, because rather than just hit the top level bullets actually want to read what it says just to give you an idea and then you can kind of extrapolate out and realize okay the book The chapter does this for all six so symptoms of the fear of poverty. Number one indifference commonly expressed through lack of ambition willingness to tolerate poverty acceptance of whatever compensation life may offer without protest mental and physical laziness lack of initiative imagination enthusiasm and self-control.

This is just one symptom. Of the fear of poverty, which is indifferent second one in decision. The habit of Permitting others to do one’s thinking staying on the fence. generally expressed through Alibis and excuses designed to cover up explain away or apologize for one’s failures. Sometimes expressed in the form of Envy of those are who of those who are successful or by criticizing them.

So do you envy the successful? Do you criticize them? Worried usually expressed by finding fault with others a tendency to spread Beyond one’s income neglect of personal appearance scalling frowning intemperance in the use of alcoholic drink, sometimes through the use of Narcotics nervousness lack of poise self-consciousness and Lack of self reliance.

That’s all worry and worry is another symptom of fear of poverty. Will do two more here. Over caution. This is the habit of looking for the negative side of every circumstance thinking and talking of possible failure instead of concentrating upon the means of succeeding knowing all the roads to disaster but never searching for the plans to avoid failure.

Waiting for the right time to begin putting ideas and plans into action until waiting becomes a permanent habit that the this one’s probably gonna get a few people. Are you waiting for the right time? Are you concentrating?

Sean: [00:07:36] Are you concentrating on do you know all the roads to disaster or are you concentrating upon the means of.

Succeeding waiting to begin putting ideas and plans into action until the waiting becomes a permanent habit remembering those who have failed and forgetting those who have succeeded seeing the hole in the donut, but overlooking the donut pessimism leading to indigestion poor elimination Auto intoxication bad breath and bad disposition with bad breath seems so Random here.

I guess that’s because you’re drinking all the time. Is that what he means?

Sean: [00:08:15] All right, one more and this isn’t even all the symptoms of just the first of six fears the fear of poverty. We’ve got procrastination. So this is kind of similar related to the last one of over caution like waiting for the right time the habit of putting off until tomorrow.

What should have been done last year spending enough time in creating Alibis and excuses. To have done the job. So this is funny because at the end at the very end of this chapter, I think I wrote this down because I thought I was kind of. it’s kind of funny. Where did I write this down? Oh. Now that’s not even it.

Well, basically it was at the end of the chapter he was talking about how. He could not he was he was quoting someone when he was like, I don’t understand why people spend so much time making Alibis and excuses when that time could have been spent doing things that would render the Alibis unnecessary.

Sean: [00:09:35] refusal to accept responsibility when it can be avoided if there is a way to avoid responsibility you do.

willingness to constant compromise rather than put up a stiff fight compromising with difficulties instead of harnessing and using them as stepping stones to. Bargaining with life for a penny instead of demanding Prosperity opulence riches contentment and happiness planning what to do if and when overtaken by failure.

Sean: [00:10:09] planning what to do if and when overtaken by failure instead of burning all bridges and making Retreat impossible. We’ll wrap up your weakness of an often total lack of self-confidence. Definiteness of purpose self-control initiative enthusiasm ambition Thrift and sound reasoning ability expecting poverty instead of demanding riches association with those who accept poverty instead of the company of those who demand and receive riches.

You know people like this, you know people who accept poverty. And accepting doesn’t mean without a without a fair amount of complaints. Like they’re not happy about it and they’ve got their excuses and reasons for why but they’re not doing anything about it. That’s the acceptance part like this is my lot in life.

I you know, I can’t do anything about it, you know, like people like that association with them. Instead of those who demand and receive riches. Like, you know, you’re in this book club with myself and Ryan we demand and receive riches whether or not that’s the case right now. That’s that’s the direction we’re going.

Yeah, it’s a state of mind exactly, you know the difference you can tell the difference between this type of mindset that we’re talking about here on the show. And the type of mindset that is one of acceptance of poverty which which is held by people that you’re associating with and that in and of itself is part of the symptom of procrastination, which is evidence of fear of poverty.

Doesn’t it really interesting that it all comes full circle around what we can derive from this is. if you are associating with people who accept poverty that’s their mindset. That is a symptom that you fear poverty.

Sean: [00:12:34] tell me about it. If I fear poverty I associate with people who accept.

Ryan: [00:12:42] Yeah, exactly. Because you’re going to be attracting the like mind, you know, it’s the we talked about this in the last show.

I don’t necessarily buy into the idea that like my thoughts are being picked up by other people, but I think it’s communicated in a variety of different ways. If I have the fear of poverty through all the subtle nuances in the things that I speak about. That’s going to attract other people of the same type of caliber essentially can they’re going to find sympathy with me because they have that same thing.

I’m going to reinforce it in them. And it’s just this Vicious Kind of you know, self repeating cycle that you’ll get yourself into based off of who you’re associating with. I think it makes perfect sense.

Sean: [00:13:20] Let’s do that. We made pretty good time on that. I didn’t go through all of the

If I may there’s one part that I is funny that you want to read. I want to read one one little part as well in the book because it was just it was too potent not to touch on it. He talks about the fear of poverty is a state of mind and so before he gets into all those symptoms. He States this now I’ll say this if any one of those symptoms stood out to you and you’re getting and you’re feeling convicted you like.

Yeah. Indifference indecision doubt worry over caution procrastination if any one of those is resonating with you, I’m just going to do a little bit more scare tactics on top of it, but it’s important he’s based. He says this in regards to the fear of poverty fear of poverty is a state of mind and nothing else but it is sufficient to destroy ones chances of achievement in any undertaking a truth which became painfully evident during the Depression.

This is where it really like just wrecked my soul when I read this. This Fear paralyzes The Faculty of Reason destroys the faculty of imagination kills off self-reliance undermines enthusiasm discourages initiative leads to uncertainty of purpose encourages procrastination wipes out enthusiasm and make self-control and impossibility.

It takes the charm from one’s personality destroys the possibility of accurate thinking diverts concentration of effort it Masters. Turns The Willpower into nothingness destroys the ambition the clouds the memory and invites failure in every conceivable form he’s going at like nuclear on it. It kills love and assassinates the finer emotions of the heart discourages friendship and invites disaster and hundred forms leads to sleeplessness misery and unhappiness and.

All this despite the obvious truth that we live in a world of overabundance of everything the heart could Desire with nothing standing between us and our desires accepting lack of a definite purpose. Who?

Sean: [00:15:17] It just keeps twisting the knife. There’s no way he could keep going.

Sean: [00:15:57] are you indecisive? And are you doubtful? Well, it’s a matter of time before that turns into fear and fear as Ryan just indicated by the very long laundry list of issues undermines. I think we can safely say everything good.

Ryan: [00:16:18] Basically, yeah. we we learned earlier in this book that. You have a state of mind at any given point, but your mind is either dominated by faith and by positive emotions or to dominated by fear and negative emotions. So I think it’s very important for us not to just dismiss this lightly or to you know, we have to take it seriously because if you’re experiencing any of those symptoms a symptoms means that you have the source.

Okay, so if you are experiencing any one of those symptoms. That means that you have fear in your life. And if we again if we take this to The Logical conclusion fear and faith make poor bedfellows. They cannot coexist at the same time. So if you have a symptom of fear, that means you do not have faith which means that you are not moving in the positive direction.

That means that you were operating is convicting and scary and unfun is this maybe you are operating out of a spirit of fear a mindset of fear.

Sean: [00:17:26] If you are experiencing fear, you can’t have the faith acts aspect.

Ryan: [00:17:34] If you have any amount of fear or doubt rather. It’s basically it’s like poison. You can’t have 90 99 percent water and one One Drop of Poison. It’s now poisonous water. You can’t drink it anymore. It’s been contaminated likewise.

You cannot have faith for something, but also actively be doubting it at the same time. That’s not actually true faith.

Sean: [00:17:54] It’s basically just fear because if if fear is there it it’s going to take over. It. Can’t Faith can’t be with it in the mind.

Sean: [00:18:26] I was going to say don’t be surprised because it’s it’s in descending order of commonality. So that’s going to get most people but we’re not going to do this for all six, but we’ll just do two and then we’ll get to some commentary.

Let’s just kind of give you another sense of like what the book is going through here symptoms of the fear of criticism. This is the second fear fear of criticism. This fear is almost as universal as the fear of poverty and its effects are just as fatal to Personal Achievement mainly because this fear destroys initiative and discourages the use of imagination the major symptoms of the fear our number one self consciousness.

Generally expressed through nervousness timidity in conversation and in meeting strangers awkward movement of the hands and limbs shifting of the eyes that self-consciousness that that’s that’s a symptom of the fear of criticism number to lack of poise Express through the through the lack of voice control nervousness in the presence of others poor posture of the Body for memory.

Number three personality lacking in firmness of decision personal charm and ability to express opinions. Definitely I think but you know, but whatever right don’t want to offend don’t want to State a strong opinion the habit of sidestepping issues instead of meeting them squarely agreeing with others without careful examination of their opinions.

You just want to be agreeable. Next is inferiority complex the habit of expressing self approval by word of mouth and by actions as a means of covering up a feeling of inferiority using big words to impress others often without knowing the real meaning of the words imitating others in dress speech manners, you’re just kind of what’s the word like chameleons right boasting of imaginary achievement.

This sometimes gives a surface appearance of a feeling of superiority that’s inferiority complex symptom of fear of criticism extravagance the habit of trying to keep up with the Joneses spending Beyond one’s income lack of initiative failure to embrace opportunities for self-advancement fear to express opinions lack of confidence in one’s own ideas giving evasive answers to questions asked by superiors hesitancy of manner and speech deceit.

In both words and deeds I’ll do like one or two more maybe these are all symptoms of fear of criticism lack of ambition mental and physical laziness lack of self-assertion slowly slowness in reaching decisions easily influenced by others the habit of criticizing others behind their backs and flattering them to their faces the habit of accepting defeat without protest quitting.

Quitting an undertaking when opposed by others suspicious of other people without cause lacking in tactfulness of manner and speech unwillingness to accept the blame for mistakes. I think I’ll stop there. It’s a lot.

Ryan: [00:22:31] Yeah, I’m right here but it’s funny because he says now sufficient time to go through the analysis of these questions is a full day. So it’s like if you’ve gone through it and you haven’t even given it a full day.

Sean: [00:23:11] Now I’m like, let me do it. Let’s just let’s just do like live coaching. So the importance here this isn’t going to help anyone if they don’t have a space to think so part of this podcast is like we’re giving people the space to think like they wouldn’t read the book.

Otherwise, they’re not going to do the exercises. But but we kind of forced them to at least think about some of these because they’re listening to the podcast.

Ryan: [00:24:32] Do you find fault with other people at the slightest provocation?

Do you frequently make mistakes in your work? And if so. Why? Are you sarcastic and offensive in your conversation? Do you deliberately avoid the association of anyone and if so, why? Do you suffer frequently with indigestion? If so, what is the cause? Does life seem futile and the future hopeless to you?

If so, why? Do you like your occupation? If not, why? Do you often feel self-pity? And if so, why? Are you envious of those who Excel you? To which do you devote most time thinking of success or a failure? Are you gaining or losing self confidence as you grow older? Do you learn something of value from all mistakes?

Are you permitting some relative or acquaintance to worry you? If so, why? Are you sometimes in the clouds and at other times in the depths of despondency?

Sean: [00:25:56] Let me let me take over a few and give you the gift of getting to. These because I really appreciated having time when I was hearing you say some of them I got to reflect who has the most inspiring influence upon you what is the cause do you tolerate negative or discouraging influences, which you can avoid?

Are you careless of your personal appearance? If so, when and why? Have you learned how to Drown Your Troubles by being too busy? Or to be annoyed by them.

Sean: [00:26:36] Have you learned how to Drown Your Troubles by being too busy to be annoyed by them?

Would you call yourself a spineless weakling? If you permit it others to do your thinking for you? Do you neglect internal bathing until Auto intoxication makes you ill tempered and irritable? That’s an interesting. I don’t know. What does that mean?

Ryan: [00:27:01] I would say I think that what he’s saying is that when he says internal bathing I what I take it as is it basically the use of or the neglect of autosuggestion.

Like speaking to yourself and basically feeding yourself positive thoughts and if you would neglect that you will just automatically turn towards.

Sean: [00:27:18] we could take Auto intoxication as the opposite of like some kind of positive autosuggestion.

Ryan: [00:27:24] That’s the way that I’ve taken it. I can’t say for sure if it’s accurate, but that’s the way that I interpreted it.

Sean: [00:27:29] Okay, a few more how many preventable disturbances annoy you and why do you tolerate them? Do you resort to liquor narcotics or cigarettes to quiet your nerves? If so, why do you not try will power instead?

Ryan: [00:27:46] That one right there real quick just to pause. Sorry. That’s one of my favorite questions in the whole book.

Ryan: [00:27:52] It really is and I don’t even struggle with liquor or cigarettes, but just the idea of.

Sean: [00:27:59] Like let’s add to this. Let’s add to this video games Netflix social media like those are modern forms of Narcotics. Like they are addictive substances that we use to numb out or quiet our nerves or or calm down.

Ryan: [00:28:19] it could be anything as about to say so but if so, it’s like basically ask yourself any question. If so, why do you not try willpower instead that to me is just like the nail in the coffin for so many things. It’s just do you want to carry something out or do you not want to resort to something use your willpower?

Because it’s been given to you now. I will put a little caveat on that by saying I have read James Clear book and I think that supplementing your willpower with the right environment is. Absolutely crucial and important and possibly even more important. I’m getting my mind changed on this little bit after I read his book.

I think it might be a little bit more important than willpower and that’s a little bit maybe dangerous to say, but I definitely think that you that you need to blend both of those together, but.

Sean: [00:29:06] I was going to say that by the way, like just for some people they go like no modern science says you can’t just quit cigarettes cigarettes with will power.

You know, like okay don’t get don’t get caught up right like we did a whole episode on. The book that James did you should pick up his book anyway Atomic habits and you’ll learn a lot more about this and you’ll find ways that you do have control and you can make change and there’s other tools in addition to willpower because willpower does work.

The problem is it’s a finite resource and so you don’t want to always tap your willpower. You want to use other things like environment, right? It’s hard to have those chips if they’re not in the pantry because you didn’t buy them in the first place. It’s hard to go to your phone when it’s an airplane mode in the bedroom instead of at your desk when you’re supposed to be writing.

There’s a lot of little things that you can do. And so I would just say list all of those and if you need help with It Episode 385 is is the one build build good habits break bad ones. All about Atomic habits James clears book just couch all of that under this this categorical term of willpower and don’t get tripped up by by the word itself.

Ryan: [00:30:20] Anyways, you can keep reading at it. I just want to touch on that one real quick because I love that one.

Sean: [00:30:24] Does anyone nag you and if so for what reason? Do you have a definite major purpose and if so, what is it? And what plan have you for achieving it? So yeah, I mean there’s lots lots more of these self analysis questions

Ryan: [00:30:49] Yeah. And I would say that a good exercise to go through if you have the ability is to get somebody else to answer them along with you and also to I would say if you can actually go through the exercise together, like read the questions out loud together answer them both on your ideally.

It’s somebody that you that you know, well they know you as well so that you’re able to both answer the questions honestly, but then they’re also able to give you feedback and say like. You know what? Like I think this is actually something that you could work on. Maybe if you said like know I’m kind of good on this but they’re saying let me let me give you some insight on that partner, you know, or even vice versa.

You might be going a little bit too hard on yourself and you’d be like no. This is that and they’re saying well hold up like you actually are in my opinion at least from the outside looking in you actually do very well on this and so they’re able to kind of balance out and round out your answers and give you a good perspective on it.

So I would say if you have the ability. It’s highly valuable to go through it with somebody else as well. And I think it gives you a much clearer picture of yourself as well. It’s a little bit more honest I’d say.

Sean: [00:31:53] At the end of the self analysis questions. It says how much time have you devoted to studying and answering these questions at least one day is necessary for the analysis and answering of the entire list if you so it’s basically saying set aside a day for this that would be a good idea.

If you’ve answered all of these questions truthfully, you know more about yourself than the majority of. Study the questions carefully come back to them once each week for several months and be astounded at the amount of additional knowledge of Great Value to yourself. You will have gained by the simple method of answering the questions truthfully.

If you’re not certain concerning the answers to some of the questions seek the counsel of those who you know, well as Ryan said, especially those who have no motive in flattering you and see your yourself through their eyes, the experience will be astonishing and then right here it says. you have absolute control.

Over but one thing and that is your thoughts. a lot of people believe. they don’t have control over their thoughts. They just they let feelings control them and they don’t break it down and like okay a suggestion comes into your mind. But you don’t have to follow every suggestion every thought impulse right some as the book says some are positive some are negative.

Right? But some people like they’re not aware of the steps like thought impulse comes into your mind USS it. Is this good? Do I want anything to do with it? Do I want to accept it? Do I want to reject it? Am I going to react am I going to respond like you have that autonomy you have absolute control over your thoughts.

But if you don’t practice that and it is a practice you can very easily get into a rut of being controlled by feelings and and negative thought impulses. Where they just enter your mind and then the rest just happens. You know, there’s there’s no there’s no discernment. There’s no there’s no filter essentially.

Ryan: [00:34:05] One thing I want to touch on just in the spirit of transparency. He says, you know, you’ll want about a day to go through that. Just for reference and maybe this is for whatever it’s worth. But when I went through the questions, I want to say the first time or the second time. I think I might have been the second time because I actually yeah, that’s the one actually wrote all of my answers down.

I did it with a friend is actually one of my brothers Cameron and I want to say that took us about. Three to four hours. I want to say. So that was just my experience with the questions and that was going through it with another person as well. So we kind of like talked about me to kind of talk about him, you know analyze it make sure that they’re actually accurate answers.

So just rough ballpark, that’s kind of what our experience was about 3 to 4 hours, but your results May Vary.

Ryan: [00:34:56] Oh, man, those are good, too. It’s like if I only had more money if I didn’t have a family if I didn’t have this or that any any goes on, but then at the very end of the list, he says here’s the real

Sean: [00:35:06] What wait wait, can I say a few more and then you do that if I had a good education?

This is like 57 Alibis by old man, if. A coffee table book if I had good health. You could totally see it Ryan like a like a children’s illustrated book except it’s not really for children and like each page was you know, if I had good health if I only had time and in on each page, there’s like this old man kind of like, you know, like slumped over in a chair.

There’s like one of those melting clocks, you know, he’s out at the dock like wistfully looking like wishing. He had a boat. If only I had time if only times were better. If other people understood me, if conditions around me were only different if I could live my life over again, if I did not fear what they would say if I’d been given a chance if I now had a chance if other people didn’t have it in for me if nothing happens to stop me.

If only I were younger if only I could do what I want only I had been born rich. If only I met the right people if I had the talent some people have if I dared assert myself. Okay, so we won’t read all of them. But where does he land at the.

Ryan: [00:36:17] If and this is the greatest of them all. I had the courage to see myself as I really am.

I would find out what is wrong with me incorrect. Then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others for I know that there is something wrong with me or I would now be where I would have been if I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses and less time building Alibis to cover them.

That’s just a cold hard look in the mirror, basically.

Sean: [00:36:52] And that’s that’s what this chapter provides is the ability to self analyze.

Sean: [00:36:59] Look yourself in the mirror essentially and it’s like if you truthfully answer these questions and spend a day on them. You will know yourself better than the majority of people.

Ryan: [00:37:10] one thing that’s encouraging and kind of heartening to think about is that as he stated in the book fear is nothing more than a state of mind. So if you any any kind of talks about Physicians, this was interesting, he said, you know Physicians don’t really fear disease because they understand it and they know how it works.

And so he’s like they’ll charge into a room and you know deal with all these kind of patients that are dealing with stuff but they have ultimate courage and they’re not really worried about it. And so he actually talks about and I’m not actually pushed back on me if maybe this isn’t accurate or not, but he says that these people don’t really get sick as often as maybe the regular population because they don’t fear it.

At least that was the claim that he made but anyways, he says that fear is a state of mind. So essentially if fear is a state of mind and we can control our thoughts. We have the autonomy in the and the freedom in the privilege to do that. Therefore we know that fear may be mastered because it’s nothing but a ghost in our mind.

It’s just only in the way that we think. Whether we fear something or not, and that’s not to say that rightly. So you shouldn’t fear certain things like how you should fear jumping off a cliff because you’re going to die I get that but as far as these fears that were considered, you know fear of poverty criticism Etc.

You don’t have to fear those things if you develop and keep and maintain the right mindset to go with it.

Ryan: [00:38:31] It was the fear of ill-health the fear of loss of Love of someone. The fear of old age and the fear of death and what was interesting is he said basically the fear of ill health.

I don’t remember what his what his counter to that one was but basically said if you fear the loss of Love of someone. He said just decide in your mind. And this is just where his it goes back to the like, you know, if you want to do this just try willpower instead decide in your mind that you are willing to carry on without love.

Ryan: [00:39:06] like developing this mental tenacity that says like nothing no power. No nothing. No one will stop me from achieving what I want to achieve. So fear of old age. He’s like don’t don’t look at it. Like when you hit 40 or 50 or 60 that your life is over.

He’s like. View it as a blessing the a you’ve made it this far already and be that you’re now at the prime of your life where you have more confidence in wisdom and still hopefully most of your physical abilities as well. And then even into your later age, you know view the the gray and the silver and the white hairs on your head as just a crown of wisdom and understand understand how to use that and like he’s basically said you’re able to use wisdom you’re able to use self-control you’re able to basically like the opposite of all of your youthful Tendencies, right?

Ryan: [00:39:56] well and then the fear of fear of death, he basically says something along the lines of. People are going to have all kinds of mixed views on this and I get it. That’s fair. But his least what he proposed was. He says just view it as a and I actually actually have to actually remember now how to push back

Ryan: [00:40:13] Okay. He says view it as a necessity because death comes for all men and if it comes for all men therefore, it must be a necessity. I don’t necessarily believe with that logic, but he basically says, you know, it’s. It’ll just be a long and peaceful sleep. That’s basically kind of how he chalks it up.

Sean: [00:40:33] I think I don’t think the logic is flawed you may or may not dis you may or may not agree with the premise, right? Because I think the logic flows

Ryan: [00:40:41] because sickness comes to everybody doesn’t mean that it should or that we shouldn’t attempt to cure the disease. No, I’m using a different and analogy now, you know just because something comes to everybody doesn’t mean in my opinion that it has to be a necessity, right?

Sean: [00:40:58] Well, but but it depends on what we mean by words because if it in Brackets whatever you want to say that is comes to everyone. Like it depends on if we’re taking that statement literally because. if it comes to everyone it comes to you.

Ryan: [00:41:18] He’s saying if death comes to everyone it must be nice and necessity.

And I would just take the same argument and say if sickness comes to everybody. It must be a necessity. I

Sean: [00:41:27] Right, but here the language here the language like it sounds like you are not taking what he’s saying literally and you are imposing on to the word everyone. Your interpretation which is most people it’s so it depends what I’m saying is how do

Yeah, so I when he said that I had kind of a little bit of pushback. But anyways.

Sean: [00:42:52] I thought you were going to go down the whole route of like death may come to everyone but we can upload our Consciousness and that doesn’t apply to us anymore. And in the future. We may not have to die. I thought you were going to go down that route.

Ryan: [00:43:04] A little bit of that basically because we may at some point circumvent death and I don’t think that just saying well death happens to everyone right now. So it has to be necessary. I just think that that’s a limited thinking scope.

Sean: [00:43:39] that we weren’t going to go in total depth on all of the symptoms of all the fears, but I feel like the loss of Love is is worth touching on briefly and he says the distinguishing symptoms of this fear our jealousy.

So it’s the habit of being suspicious of friends loved ones without reasonable evidence of sufficient grounds. It’s skimming over a little bit fault-finding the habit of finding faults with friends relatives business associates and loved ones upon the slightest provocation without any cause whatsoever.

I’ve definitely seen that before. So someone who has a habit of finding Fault With Friends. Relatives Associates. They had a fear loss of love very interesting third third symptom gambling that habit of gambling stealing cheating otherwise taking hazardous chances to provide money for loved ones with the belief that love can be bought the habit of spending Beyond one’s means or incurring debts to provide gifts for loved ones with the object of making a favorable.

Insomnia nervousness lack of persistence weakness of will lack of self-control lack of self-reliance bad temper, but I thought that was interesting. They said gambling taking risks basically, you know the doing these hazardous things to try to essentially but because they believe love can be bought by gifts even incurred debts to buy gifts make a favorable showing.

It’s because of a fear of loss of love.

Ryan: [00:45:22] Well think about it if you didn’t have enough money, but then you’re thinking I have to buy love from somebody else. If that’s the flawed premise is then you I have to go out and gamble to get

Then one thing that was interesting and I wrote this out of my notes and I was so I wanted to touch on it. He says at the very beginning on the fear of poverty. He says the two roads that lead to poverty and riches travel in opposite directions. If you want riches you must refuse to accept any circumstance that leads towards poverty.

Etcetera etcetera Etc. Then he says here then is the place to give yourself a challenge which will definitely determine how much of this philosophy you have absorbed here in this is the part where I’m like, whoa, this is kind of interesting now here is the point at which you can turn profit and that’s not like money profit but like foretelling for seeing profit and foretell accurately what the future holds in store for you.

If after reading this chapter you are willing to accept poverty. Then this one this is another brutal just knife to assist if you’re willing to accept poverty after reading this chapter. You may as well make up your mind to receive poverty.

You cannot avoid he says if after reading this chapter you are willing to accept poverty. You may as well make up your mind to receive poverty. like. If you’re not going to put your flag in if you’re not going to demand riches you might as well just go full-blown the opposite direction and actually own what you’re doing and just saying I am going to receive poverty.

Sean: [00:47:21] course, that’s it. That’s why I want the one of the problems was. Associating with people who accept poverty game over.

Ryan: [00:47:33] But I think that that’s an important distinction to make if you’re not just demanding riches and just saying I will and I will have this and I’m actually going to turn profit and for tell what the future holds for me if you don’t have that faith and that conviction to know that you will receive riches because you’re demanding them.

You have to look at yourself and say if I’m not taking that stance then the only other stance that I can take is that I’m willing to accept another result besides that. And if you’re willing to accept another result from that if you’re only willing to accept that you might as well just own it and say that I will receive poverty because if you’re willing to accept it, then that’s what you will get.

Move that one to that one for me that one just like punched in the gut. mindset so important.

Sean: [00:48:49] better. I’m better than that, you know, but like there they are there.

There’s they’re sneaky yet. That’s right. They are sneaky. What did it say like like. Subconscious like there brooding or what was it? They germinate and grow without their presence being observed.

Ryan: [00:49:07] and that’s why I think he admonishes you you had to go back to this week after week after week because it’s just like you’ve got to.

Sean: [00:49:13] Self self analysis like like ask yourself. These questions answer them truthfully. You will know yourself better than the majority of people most people are driven by these fears unbeknownst to them. So just the awareness set you so much further ahead. So just being aware at least in my case that.

the fear of poverty in the fear of criticism is still there for me, you know.

Ryan: [00:49:42] One powerful story, I that he touched on he says we do not this is his kind of the quotable from it. But he says we do not worry over conditions. Once we have reached a and I’ll put this reached a definite decision to follow a definite line of action.

Will he uses definite anyways, but once you reach a decision to follow a definite line of action, you don’t worry about the conditions and I think that goes back to a lot of what I learned from kind of what Grant Cardone talks about. He’s just like. Commit commit commit just decide make the choice and then follow through on that because whatever the circumstances or whatever the obstacles or whatever the the challenges that you face.

That’s simply not going to matter. You talked about this a lot Sean when you talk about the you know the habits that you have like the day before I decide what kind of day I’m going to have. You know, you don’t you don’t worry about like am I going to close my Apple watch Rings today? You already decided what’s going to happen you’ve committed and now whether it’s raining outside or whether it’s snowing outside or whether you have to do this or that it doesn’t matter.

It’s just something that’s going to be mowed over along your way while you get there. Like you’re just going to demolish it and steam roller.

Sean: [00:50:48] Think about it. When is the last time? You decided yesterday. What today would look like? If you can’t remember that there’s a problem. That’s why you’re not consistent.

Reliable stable seeing results. It has to be a foregone conclusion. That’s why the people you look to who seem to be getting things done and getting results and you know, you may be envious of their success or whatever. That’s that’s why they’re getting it is because they’re deciding what their day looks like the day before and that’s just that’s just a part of how they’re operating.

At the end of this chapter. This was there. This is where the quote was. It’s always been a mystery to me why people spend so much time deliberately fooling themselves by creating Alibis to cover their weaknesses if used differently the same time would be sufficient to cure the weakness then no Alibis would be needed.

So much energy. Going into creating Alibis and excuses and reasons for covering weaknesses. This is why I can’t show up on time. This is why I didn’t do my work today. This is why I can’t this is you know what I mean like,

Ryan: [00:52:07] and it’s interesting his commentary on it because he says the reason why we’re so defensive about these Alibis is because he says anything that a man create.

Ryan: [00:52:19] Your brainchild. Yeah, he’s like so you’re like have to protect it because you created it you created this Alibi. And so therefore you feel like I’ve got a you know, yeah,

Sean: [00:52:27] It is your spawn. Think about how you defend your children write your brainchild of excuses and Alibis to cover your weaknesses is your own creation.

So you are you are intrinsically motivated to defend that like realize your natural predisposition. That that is that is something you are going to want to do. That doesn’t mean it’s good for you. It’s just natural, but the thing is like, okay, you’ve got you’ve got some weaknesses. You’ve got some excuses.

You’ve got some reasons. Okay, fine, like no one’s saying they aren’t there, but you you are choosing to let those things stop you and not only just let them stop you. You spend time sometimes even even to create and defend and justify The Alibi for not having time you spend time coming up with these reason stories excuses Alibis and let’s just say they’re real.

Let’s say you’re not even making it up like their actual challenges fine. But all of that time could go towards making progress on those solving some of the problems making it easier like curing the weaknesses.

Ryan: [00:53:49] He talks about sleeplessness to and like worrying and all that kind of stuff. It’s like when you spend time creating Alibis and focusing on weiu.

To do things in the obstacles that stuff will literally keep you up. And also it will destroy your ambition to get back up again when you’re supposed to be up in to begin with and you know to start your next day. So it just permeates and it just sour a I can just speak from experience. It will sour your excuse me.

It’ll sour your entire day based off of you know, what you allow yourself to worry about.

Sean: [00:54:21] Time. time you can’t get back Ben and I were talking in in the last episode about regret. You know the it’s you’ve probably heard like change happened when the pain of staying the same surpasses that of.

doing something different making it, you know changing your actions, right? So why is it that we don’t do certain things because we’re insecure or you know, whatever reason we why is it that we don’t do those things well, It’s because we don’t want to go through the temporary current pain of being vulnerable and being imperfect risking judgment, you know fear of criticism.

Now, we just push that pain later so we just don’t do anything because of fear of criticism. Let’s say and then we push the pain into the future where it comes back in the form of regret. And it’s the old man’s regret and what’s so devastating about it is there is no going back to change those things and that’s what makes it.

So painful. It’s like I wish I did. I wish I knew I wish wish but Time Marches On You can’t get that time back. It’s a finite resource and the next paragraph here. I thought was it had an interesting little analogy in parting. I would remind you that life is a checkerboard and the player opposite you is time.

If you hesitate before moving or neglect to move promptly your men will be wiped off the board by a time. You’re playing against a partner who will not tolerate indecision the go back to an earlier chapter wherein he said make decisions promptly. And change your mind if at all. Slowly and what a lot of people do is make decisions slowly and then change their mind often and what is what is the problem with that time?

Can’t get time back. It’s just a waste of time. You’re playing a check game of checkers and opposite you your opponent is time you hesitate you don’t move promptly your men are wiped off the board by time.

Maybe I should read these last couple chat couple paragraphs previously. You may have had a logical excuse for not having forced life to come through with whatever you ask but that alibi is now obsolete because you are in possession of the master key that unlocks the door to Life’s Bountiful riches.

The master key is intangible, but it is powerful is the privilege of creating in your own mind a burning desire. For a definite form of riches there’s no penalty for use of the key. But there is a price you must pay if you do not use it. The price is failure. A burning desire creating in your own mind a burning desire.

We learned earlier. The one thing you have absolute control over is the power of thought so you can at any point you want create in your own mind a burning desire.

Sean: [00:58:06] That’s the one I’m talking about like creating a burning desire.

Ryan: [00:58:12] This is a pretty good one. I’m looking at my notebook and on the left side. I think I would like I take notes. I took notes in the chapter as I went, but then there’s also some just things I wrote on the back side. I just wrote I cannot Envision failure. And then I remember asking this question was Caleb when we went through I said, how do you burn a bridge but we both we both wrote down over here on the bottom left because this one this one when you read this earlier in the show Sean, it’s just very convicting.

Planning what to do if and when overtaken by failure instead of Burning Bridges and making Retreat impossible. So you just can’t think about what if I fail and then what’s my plan B what will I do when I fail? That just can’t be a part of the way that you think are operate. So my brother Caleb and I when we both went through this and we were kind of hoping, you know, honing in and focusing on that specific thing.

We just wrote it down. We said I do not Envision failure any longer we put a date on it and then we both signed both of our names to it just to kind of complete it mentally in our own minds, but that’s the one thing that. it’s I got to be real. It’s a little bit scary. It’s a little bit scary because you’re realizing that you’re putting yourself on the hook.

Essentially. You’re

Sean: [00:59:27] What burning the boats there’s no way back. What’s scary about

Ryan: [00:59:32] But that’s the to me. I think that’s like it’s a it’s an essential piece or part of the ingredients. To make sure that you actually do create a burning desire because I think that if you still always have a plan b or if you’re envisioning what you’ll do when or if failure overtakes you or like maybe I’ll pursue my goal until I’m 40 and if it doesn’t work out then I’ll do something safe.

Like if you have a plan B. You will not have a burning desire to see it through. I don’t think they I don’t think they can coexist. You know I’m saying.

Sean: [01:00:06] because some energy is going elsewhere and I would say a necessary prerequisite for burning desire is all of your energy.

Ryan: [01:00:17] Yeah, just like your mind still thinking about like I can go back versus

Sean: [01:00:22] seventy-five percent of your energy is going to create a warm desire not a burning desire.

Sean: [01:00:28] And and plus like even your plan B’s gonna suck. Like why not go a hundred a hundred percent into the burning desire. It fails and then put a hundred percent into the next plan and have that be your burning desire once again.

That’s a great way to put it. Yeah. Hmm this book man. He really gets you at the end. He’s like you’ve got the master key no excuses now.

Sean: [01:01:03] I had a little bit of struggles on the last couple chapters, but you know, we stuck it out. We’re gold-mining the good nuggets and stuff. It is. It is a really really solid book.

There’s a lot of good stuff in here like just a lot if you’re not reading the book. We’re we’re not reading the book to you right now. Like there is so much more in the book that that you know, I would say if you are in the community Laura put together an epic lists. There’s a conversation called Think and Grow Rich action steps.

There’s a conversation that just has all of the to dues like here you go. This is what you need. Yeah, and it is a lot but. It’s good for review because if you’re just looking for like all right, what what do I need to do? I read the book before that’s a nice concise compiled list there.

Sean: [01:02:08] Well, I mean that that’s the that’s the final chapter the lot to lot to process lot to think about. We are going to have a recap episode though.

Ryan: [01:02:19] Yeah, and I think that’s going to be beneficial because it’s going to allow you to kind of just take a broad overview of everything that you’ve learned and I was showing this was shown earlier today before we started the show.

I’ve gone through this four times now. And I’ve taken notes on it. We’ve talked about it at length, you know, Sean of myself me and my brother Caleb numerous friends of mine. I’ve poured a lot of thinking and you know digesting this material. But even with that all said I still every single time every single time that I go back on our review all of this material.

I still pull something out of it more or even if it’s something that I already knew but I needed to be reminded of again. It’s so dense, and it’s so valuable that I just even four times in I still get so much out of it. So how much more so especially for those of who those of you who are just reading it the first time it’s so necessary that you review all this information to make sure that you’re able to digest it.

Even the author throughout the book. He says, you know. Bookmark this page or bookmark this chapter and then once you’re finished with the book now come back to it again. Like he already encouraged you to do it. And then there’s for those of you who haven’t even started reading the book yet. I mean so read the book.

Sean: [01:04:09] But that are you saying I don’t have an excuse like because the money thing, you know, you could you can you can understand, you know struggling with money that was helping me out because then that was the reason my alibi.

I spent a lot of time coming up with this excuse for why I couldn’t read the book and now it seems like you’re making it really easy for me to just do it.

Ryan: [01:04:35] will lose more money by not reading the book. Then you will even if you bought it at full price.

Sean: [01:04:47] All right, we’re going to wrap it up there. That is the last chapter of the book but we’re going to do a recap next week in the meantime. Think about what you read because there’s so much if you still haven’t read the book come on, come on.

Sean: [01:05:07] read the book. All right, you can follow me on Instagram at Sean Wes love to to get messages from you. It’s always nice to hear from people saying hey, I got the book. I’m reading it like sweet. There’s five of us. Now. You can also find Ryan that’s joke. Maybe you can find five of us reading the book, right?

Ryan: [01:05:30] you can find me online at Ryan McCabe. And send me an answer send me a message on Instagram. Send me a message. If you got the book send me a message. If you got a question about the books I me a message. If you don’t like the book, I want to hear about it.

Honestly, truly like I like talking about it. I think that it’s good. If you can give me feedback I can give you feedback we get stronger together reach out. Let me know.